Shortall bows out as longest-serving female TD

Social Democrats co-founder and TD for Dublin North-West Róisín Shortall has announced she will not contest the next general election.

Shortall will end a streak of being elected in seven consecutive general elections, having been first elected in the 1992 general election as a Labour TD and becoming the longest-serving female TD in Irish history in the process.

Winning re-election in 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2011 as a member of Labour, Shortall co-founded the Social Democrats in 2015, and won election as a member of the Social Democrats in 2016 and 2020.

Shortall’s announcement coincided with fellow Social Democrats co-founder Catherine Murphy announcing she will not be running at the next general election in Kildare.

Shortall said “I have been a TD for Dublin North-West for almost 32 years and am very proud to have had the opportunity to serve the public in that role. I am always mindful that I have been enabled to do that because the people of Dublin North-West have elected me to represent them at seven consecutive elections.  I thank them sincerely for placing their trust in me and hope I have repaid that trust through my work over that time.”

“Representing my constituents and actively contributing to public debate on national issues have been my priorities as a TD. I have a strong belief in the power of politics as a force for good. Politics has enormous potential to make people’s lives better and to create a fairer and more progressive country. I have worked in furtherance of those goals over the course of my career.”

“While I have decided to step down from frontline politics, I hope to continue to work to build on progress already made in the development of the Social Democrats party. I truly believe the party can make a major contribution to creating a better Ireland for all,” she added.

Shortall served as a junior minister at the Department of Health between 2011 and 2012, but resigned from the role in September 2012 over planned Fine Gael cuts to the health service, as well as resigning from Labour.

After sitting as an independent TD between September 2012 and July 2015, Shortall formed the Social Democrats with Catherine Murphy and Stephen Donnelly.

The Social Democrats were formed in protest at Labour’s participation in the Fine Gael-led government in 2011 and the subsequent austerity measures that followed.

Announcing her decision to form the party in 2015, Shortall said “politics should be about serving the public interest, and not the interests of politicians.”

“The Social Democrats believe that politics can be a major force for good. But that can only happen if we reform the way politics is practised and create an open and honest political system.”

“Most European countries already have a social democratic party; indeed the most successful societies on Earth have had social democratic governments for most of the past 50 years, they have much better public services than Ireland, more stable economies and healthier democracies as a result – surely that’s something we should all be fighting for.”

Nearly a decade on and with the party firmly established in the Irish political sphere, Shortall reflected “our aim was to give people a new choice in Irish politics, a new kind of politics founded on the best tradition of social democracy; a party based on equality and a belief in a strong economy, a fair society and honest politics.”

“Our ambition has seen the election of six TDs and 35 councillors – including three in my own area of Dublin North West – with the Social Democrats now a significant force in Irish politics. I am very confident that the party has a strong future under the leadership of Holly Cairns.”

The party were invited to take part in a coalition government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael following the 2020 general election, but Shortall stated at the time that the party “has no interest in being the third leg on the table.”

More recently, the party has ruled out working with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on Fingal and Dublin City Council.

June’s local elections were a major success for the party, becoming the 2nd largest party on Dublin City Council with ten seats.

The victories included two seats for Jesslyn Henry and Aisling Silke in Artane-Whitehall which is part of Dublin North-West, as well as a convincing re-election win for Mary Callaghan in Ballymun-Finglas, which also forms part of Dublin North-West.

Shortall’s massive personal vote (which averaged 21% of first preferences across seven general elections) demonstrates that there is plenty of goodwill for Shortall’s brand of politics at a local level in the next and future general elections.

With the party turning 10 next year, the current crop of Social Democrats leaders were quick to acknowledge the foundation built by Shortall and Murphy.

Party leader Holly Cairns said she would not be involved in politics without the duo.

“Catherine and Róisín are trailblazers in Irish politics and have accomplished an incredible amount in careers that spanned decades of committed political work and dedicated public service,” she said.

“On a personal basis, I can say that I would not be in politics were it not for Catherine and Róisín’s decision to set up the Social Democrats. Their commitment to public service, belief in the possibility of a fairer society and dedication to strictly adhering to social democratic principles were, and are, an inspiration to me and many others.”

Dublin Central TD Gary Gannon said, “Roisín and Catherine have given incredible service over such a long time; it’s no mean feat getting to bow out in such a successful & accomplished manner.”

“They are two great people whose friendship & mentorship have meant the world to me.”

Deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said “over several decades Catherine & Róisín have made a huge contribution, never being afraid to stand their ground for what they believe in,” adding it was a “real privilege” to work alongside them.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dáil that Shortall and Murphy are “two mighty and formidable women in leadership. I wish them both the very best in the future. A moment of girl power, I feel, which is rare enough in these chambers.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris said they were “very formidable politicians,” and saluted Shortall’s tenure as the longest-serving female TD in Irish history.

“I want to wish them both and their families every happiness and good health now and into the future,” he said.